Locomotive stoker



2 Sheets-Sheet l June 16, 1942. S G, JONES LocoMoTIvE STOKE-:B

Filed vJuly 16, 1938.

June 16, 194g s. 5. .JONES LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed July 16, 195s 2 Sheets-Shes?l 2 `INVEIZ'O J i o r l AA; ATTORNEYS'.

uucauauvOQlun Patented June 16, 1942 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Samuel G. Jones, Princess Anne County, Va., as-

signor to Berkley Machine Works & Foundry Company, Incorporated, Berkley, Norfolk, Va., f a corporation of Virginia Application July 16, 1938, Serial No. 219,570

18 Claims.

This invention relates to locomotive stokers, and more particularly to stokers of the type that deliver coal to the rebox through an opening in its backwall.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a locomotive stoker vof relatively simple and inexpensive construction, which is durable, dependable, and exceptionally eiiicient in operation, which distributes coal uniformly over the iirebed, which is formed of only a few parts, which permits the locomotive to be readily hand-fired if necessary, in which the fuel deflector is protected to a large extent from the heat of the re, and in which the parts are readily removable and replaceable when worn.

In accordance with this invention a trough is mounted on a locomotive tender in position to receive coal from its coal bin, and is connected by a tubular member and a universal joint to the lower end of an upwardly and forwardly inclined riser conduit. To transfer coal from the tender to the rebox, conveyor screws are rotatably mounted in the horizontal and inclined conduits with their adjoining ends connected together by y universal joints. As the coal leaves the upper end of the riser conduit it passes over steam jets by which it is thrown upwardly and forwardly against the lower face of a vertically adjustable fuel deflector. The upper end of the riser may or may not surround the ring opening in the boiler backwall, as desired, but if it does so its rear wall is provided with a hand-firing opening normally closed by mechanically operated doors. The stoker power unit elements and its drive shaft and gear shafts are all journaled in ball bearings, whereby, together with the other features of this invention, this stoker has a long life and is free of frequent replacement of repair parts. Other details and features of this invention are set forth in the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my locomotive stoker mounted in operative position; Fig. 2 is a projected fragmentary plan view of the stokers riser conduit with the door operating mechanism removed; Fig. 3 is a front view of the delivery end of the riser conduit as seen through the firing opening in the boiler backwall and projected as indicated by arrow A; Fig. 3A is an enlarged cross section of the jet member; Fig. `4

is an enlarged central vertical section of the fuel of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified embodiment of the riser conduit and associated parts; Fig. 8 is a front view thereof; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the riser with its fuel-deflecting member.

\ Referring to Fig. 1` of the drawings, a conveyor trough I is mounted on a locomotive tender (not shown) below its coal bin for receiving coal' therefrom. The front wall of the trough is provided with an opening from which a sleeve 2 projects forward for removably receiving the rear end portion of a tubular member 3 that extends forward to a point below the deck 4 of the locomotive cab. To detachably connect the tubular member to the trough so that either can be readily removed a'nd replaced when worn, the front end of the sleeve is provided with a peripheral flange 6 `to which a similar flange 'I on the tube is bolted. The rear end of the tubular member preferably is flush with the inner surface of the front wall of the trough, and both are protected against wear, due to coal forced into the tube from the trough, by an arcuate wear plate 8 bolted to the troughs frontwall as shown in Fig. 6.

The front end of the horizontal conduit thus formed is connected by a suitable universal joint 9 to the lower end of an upwardly and forwardly inclined riser conduit II, the upper end of which is mounted in rigid position relative to the backwall I2 of the locomotive boiler by boltng the riser to a bracket I3 on the locomotive frame beneath cab deck 4. Because the locomotive and tender move toward and away from each other Vwhen in service, it is necessary to allow for such movement in mounting the stoker. Accordingly trough I is mounted on a pair of rollers I4 traveling on rails I6 formed by angle irons or the like secured to the frame of the tender and extending longitudinally thereof.` The trough can thus move longitudinally onthe tender, and also swing laterally as muchas necessary.

Coal is fed yforward along the trough and through tubular member 3 by means of a conveyor screw II the rear end of vwhich' extends 'through the rear wall of the trough. lThe front end of this screw is connected by meansof a universaljoint I8 to the lower end of a vconveyor screw I9 rotatably disposed'infriser conduit II, and the two screws are rotated by a small steam engine (not shown) preferably mounted on the locomotive frame beneath deck 4. This vengine l speed reducing gear unit 2| mounted in back of the trough where it is operably connected to the end of the screw projecting from the rear wall of the trough. The drive shafts include a long shaft 22 that is journaled in bearings 23 bolted to pedestals 24 secured to one side of the trough. To prevent possible warping or bending of the trough from interfering with rotation of shaft 22 by throwing the bearings out of line, they are of the self-aligning type which will accommodate themselves to changing conditions in order to compensate for any misalignrnent that distortion of their support might otherwise produce. This type of bearing structure also facilitates initial alignment of the bearings, because the engaging surfaces of the bearings and pedestals can be machined to bring the two bearings into line before bolting them in place.

The lower portion of riser conduit I I is tubular, but the upper portion fiares out and is enlarged to Completely. surround the firing opening 26 in boiler backwall I2. To permit the locomotive to be hand-fired in case of emergency, or when it isV to be `driven only very short distances, such as within a railroad yard, the rear wall of the enlarged portion ofthe riser` is made flat and is provided with an opening. 2 at least as large as backwall opening 2S. rThis hat rear wall of the riser preferably lies` in a plane offset rearwardly of the rear wall of the tubularV portion of the riser to increase the cross-sectional area of the riser at the bottom of' its hand-firing opening. Opening 2l is normally closed by the well known mechanically operated butterfly doors 23 (Fig. 2)

which are placed in this location instead of over r the `baclwall opening. At the sides of opening 2T are normally covered peep holes 2Q' to permit observation of coal distribution while the fire doors are closed.

To distribute coal over the firebed after it reaches the upper end ofthe riser, a hollow jet member 3! is mounted on the upper end of the riser floor which is provided with a forwardly extending flat portion 32 to serve as a support. The jet member is detachably held in place by means of boltsS'S that are threaded in the side walls of the riser and project into depressions in the ends of the jet member. As shown in Fig. l, the rear w'all. of the jet member is inclined in substantially the same plane as the adjoining portion of the riser floor to form a continuation thereof, and its'front wall is inclined downwardly and forwardly to an apron 34 integral therewith that overlies the bottom of backwall opening 2t to .protect it from possible abrasion. The lower portion of the jet member is provided with pas'- sages connected by pipes 35 to a source of uid under pressure, such as the steam in the locomotive boiler, and the inclined front wall of the jet member is provided with a plurality of jet oriices'li'l, as shown in Fig. 3, from which the steam issues for throwing coal upwardly and forwardly. The inside of the jet member is preferably divided by vertical partitions into four chambers to each of which steam is delivered by a separate pipe 35 controlled by, a manually operable valve 38 so that the pressure in each chamber can -be individually regulated to aid in giving complete control over fuel distribution.

A smaller number of jet orifices are necessary, whereby steam is saved, due to the provision of a plate or hood 35 extending forward at a slight inclination from the-tops of the front and rear walls of the jet member. Coalmust pass over this hood before it can' fall into the steam jets,

aaeaoea and as the hood causes the coal to fall into the jets at some distance from the jet orifices, each steam jet has spread out to some extent before it strikes the coal. Consequently, the jet orifices do not have to be located so close together as they would if the steam struck the coal before spreading out. Furthermore, the spreading steam jets reduce to a minimum the likelihood of ne coal falling between them and not being thrown forward. The hood may be made in any desirable length to suit the particular installation.

Coal, thrown upwardly by the steam jets, is intercepted, and deflected forwardly in all directions'by a fuel deecting member 4|. This deflector may be made in one piece, or in several pieces provided with adjoining upstanding strengthening fianges 42 vbolted or otherwise secured together. The deflector is supported from its rear end by a substantially horizontal shaft 43 extending therethrough and pivotally mounted in lugs 44 depending from the top wall of the riser conduit. To preventl this shaft from turning inthe deflector andyet permit it tobe readily withdrawn from the latter in case it is desired to remove the defector, the central portion of theV shaft is` preferably non-circular inv cross section and the shaft-receiving `passage through the deilector is the same shape (Fig. 4). The circular' portion of the shaft mounted in the lug i4 adjacent the shaft end that projects through the side wall ofthe riser is provided with a peripheral grooveY l, as shown in Fig; 5, which receives the lower end of a` pull pin 41 extending down through a passage in the surroundinglug. This pin normally prevents axial movement of shaft 43, but removal of the pin -allows the shaft to be pulled out ofthe de flector which can then be removed from the riser conduit. The exposed end of the shaft is provided with alever 48 for turning it in order to swing the deflector ina vertical plane, and the lever is locked in adjusted position by any'suitable means, such as a toothedv segment 49 secured to the side of the riser and engaged by a retractablespring-pressed rod 5I connected to the'lever in a well-known manner.

To distribute coal uniformly over the rebed, the lower surface of the front portion of defiector 4I inthe .path of coal thrown against it by the steam jets is provided with a plurality of depending fuel-guiding ribs. Preferably, there is a pair of forwardly and outwardly curved ribs 52 for directing coal to the side portions of the grate near its rear end, and an intermediate rib 53 V-shape in cross section with its ridge inclined and mergingat its rear end into the body of the deiiector member as shown in Fig. 4. This rib permits coal to be delivered to the front of the grate, but also deects some toward the front corner portions thereof. By adjusting the delector vertically lby meansof lever 48; and by adjusting steam jet valves 38; any desired distribution of coal can be obtained.

In order that deflector 4l will not be in the way during hand firing; deiieetor-supporting shaft 43 is disposed at the top of the backwall opening, but to allow for vertical adjustment of the derlectorY the rear portion of the deflector extends downwardly and forwardly and meets the rib-carrying portion thereof at an oblique angle, as shown in Fig. 1. This mounting of the deilector also prevents it from obstructing the passage `between ring openings 25. and. 2.7 through which av boiler repairman may have to crawl.

For this samereason, the upper end ofY -riser screw I9 does not extend above a plane passing across the top of jet member 3| and the bottom of door opening 21, although the screw does extend substantially through the risers flaring -portion that -connects its tubular portion with its enlarged end. The screw thus operates through the mass of coal in the flaring portion and prevents it from packing or tending to retard the oncoming coal.

A locomotive stoker constructed in accordance with this invention is exceedingly simple, and therefore relatively inexpensive, without detracting in any way from its durability and efficiency. As the stoker consists of but a very few parts, there is little that can go wrong with it, and its upkeep is therefore relatively small. The fuel deflector is scientifically designed and positioned to distribute the coal as uniformly as possible over the grate, and the jet member aids the deflector in distributing the coal. steam and coal is disposed between the deflector and fire bed, the deflector is protected to a large extent from the intense heat of the fire. When, like all fuel distributors or deflectors, this longlife deflector does give out, it can be quickly and easily removed by a workman in the cab, and another deflector put in its place just as easily. It is preferred to use superheated steam for the steam jets because less of it is required than of wet steam.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the upper end of the riser conduit 6| does not surround the firing opening 62 in the boiler backwall 63, but terminates adjacent its lower` half. However, the upper portion of the riser flares laterally and terminates in a rectangular framelike portion 64, as shown in Fig. 8. The ends of this frame are adapted to be bolted to angle irons or the like (not shown) secured to the boiler backwall. The upper half of the firing L opening is closed by suitable mechanically operated re doors (not shown), the lower ends of which are received in front of a lug 65 extending across the top of the riser.

As shown in Fig. 7, the upper end portion of the riser floor is provided with a downwardly offset central portion terminating in an apron 61 that extends part way through the firing opening to protect the bottom wall of the opening from possible abrasion from coal elevated through the riser by a conveyor screw 68 extending well up into the flaring portion of the riser. To aid in distributing the coal throughout the firebox, a hollow jet member 69 is disposed in the recess formed by the offset iioor behind the apron. The top wall 'H of this jet member is disposed in substantially the same plane as the adjoining inclined portion of the riser oor, and its front wall 12 extends downwardly and forwardly and is provided with a plurality of jet orifices 13 beneath a hood 15. The interior of the jet member is preferably divided into four chambers each of which is supplied from below with independently controlled steam by a pipe 'I4 and valve '6 connected to the locomotive boiler. This particular Stoker is designed for a Wide firing opening, but as it is not desirable to use as wide a jet member, coal that leaves the tubular portion of the riser is prevented from passing around the ends of the jet member in the space between it and the end walls of rectangular frameV 64 by vertical ribs l1 which eX- tend forward from the flaring wall of the riser and are integral with apron 6l. These ribs, which confine the moving coal and compel it to As a sheet of Cil for screws 18 (Fig. 8) that project into depressions in the ends of the jet member for detachably holding it in place.

As in the first-described embodiment of this invention, the coal that is thrown upwardly and forwardly by the steam jets is intercepted and deflected throughout the fireb-ox by means of a deflector Sl mounted at its rear end on a shaft 82 journaled in lugs 83 depending from the top of the riser conduit. This shaft is turned, for adjusting the deflector in a vertical plane, by means of a lever 84 connected to its projecting end and held in adjusted position by any suitable means. rhe shaft is preferably held in place by a pull pin 86 in the same manner as the one shown in Fig. 5. Likewise, the deflector itself is substantially the same in construction as the one previously described. That is, it is provided on its under surface with depending outwardly curved ribs 81 and an intermediate rib 88 which is V-shape in cross section, all of these ribs having inclined lower edges. In case it becomes necessary vor desirable to nre the locomotive by hand, this can be done by shoveling coal through the upper half of firing opening '62 above the riser conduit. In order that the coal will be picked up by the steam jets, it may be found desirable to first remove the deflector by pulling its supporting shaft 82 out of it.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive flrebox through an opening in its backwall, a jet member mounted on the .floor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a steam supply, the end walls of said member being provided with depressions, bolts threaded through the sides of said conduit and projecting into said depressions for detachably holding the jet member in position, the forward face of said member being provided with a plurality of forwardly and upwardly inclined orifices for directing said steam forwardly and upwardly against the coal iiowing over the jet member, and a fuel deflector mounted in the upper portion of the upper end of said conduit in the path of coal thrown upwardly by the steam jets.

2. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive rebox through an opening in its backwall, a jet member disposed on the floor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality of inclined orifices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, lugs depending from the upper end portion of the top wall of the conduit, a shaft journaled therein and projecting through the side wall of the conduit, said shaft being non-circular in cross section between saidlugs, and a fuel deflector provided at its rear end with a non-circular opening receiving said shaft and cooperating therewith to pass over the jet member, also serve as Supports prevent rotation of the deflector on the shaft, said dei-lector projecting forward through said backwall opening above saidl'jet member.

3. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive fireboxthrough an opening inV its backwalLa jet member disposed on the oor of the upper end of 'said conduit, and forming a continuation of, said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of uid under pressure` and being providedwith a plurality of inclined orifices for directing said iiuid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, and a deector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the rebox, the front portion of the deector extending through said backwall opening and the rear portion of the deector being inclined upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, the front portion of said deector being provided onits lower surface with forwardly and outwardly curved ribs having their lower edges inclined rearwardly toward the deiiector and with an intermediate rib V-shape in vertical cross section with its lower edge inclined rearwardly toward the deiiector.

4. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted toY deliver coal to a locomotive firebox throughl an opening in its backwall and having an inclined floor provided at its upper end with a flat projection extending forward to the bottom of said opening, a jet member mounted on said flat projection in the path of coal passing through the conduit and adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said jet member being provided with a plurality of inclined orifices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, a protective apron integral with saidjet member and extending forward therefrom below said orifices and overlying the lower wall of said backwall opening, the ends of said apron extending laterally beyond the ends of the jet member and being curved upwardly to protect the side walls of said opening, and a deflector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the flrebox.

5. A Stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive i'lrebox through an opening in its backwall, a jet member disposed on the floor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality of inclined orifices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over thejet member, rand a deflector memberV disposed at theV upper end of said conduit abovesaid jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the rebox, a shaft journaled in the upper portion of the conduiti for adjustably supporting the deflector member andv provided with a peripheral groove, and a pin inserted in an opening in the conduit wall and projecting into said groove for locking said shaft against axial movement, said pin being removable to permitV the shaft to be removed axially from said deector member.Y

6, A Stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted t deliver coalV to a locomotive rebox through an opening in its backwall, said conduit including aninclined tubular portion and an enlarged upper portion extending laterally to the sides of saidopening, the sidewalls of said tubular portion havingy forward extensions projecting through said enlarged portion, a jet member disposed between said extensions in the path of coal passing through the conduit, screws threaded in said extensions for engaging the ends of the jet member to hold it in place, andV a fuel deflector mounted above said jet member.

'7. A stoker comprising a substantially straight riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive firebox through an opening in its backwall, the upper end of the conduit opening into said backwall opening, a screw conveyor in said conduit, a jet member disposed on the floor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality of inclined orifices for directing said fiuid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, and a normally stationary deflector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughoutV the rebox, said deflector member serving as the sole distributor plate for the stoker.

8. A stoker comprising a substantially straight riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive firebox through an opening in its backwall, the upper end of the conduit opening into said backwall opening, a screw conveyor in said conduit, a jet member disposed on the floor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said iioor, said jet member being.

adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and having a front wall provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orifices for directing said uid forwardly and upwardly against the coal owing over the jet member, a plate-like hood projecting forward from the top of said front wall, and a vertically adjustable deflector member projecting forward from the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the rebox.

9. A Stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive flrebox through an opening in its backwall, said conduit including an inclined tubular portion and an enlarged upper portion formed for surrounding said opening and` having a hand-firing opening in its rear wall, theA outer surface of said rear wall lying in a. plane substantially. parallel to the outer surface of the rear wall of said tubular portion but offset. outwardly therefrom, closure means for said hand-firing opening, a jet member disposed on the iioor ofthe upper end of said conduit and forming. a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality ofr upwardly inclined orices for. directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly, against the coal flowing over the jet member, and a deilectcr member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and inthe path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the flrebox, said deflector member serving as the only distributor plate in the stoker.

10. Av stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive flrebox through an opening in its backwall, said conduit including an inclined tubular portion and an enlarged upper portion formed for surrounding said opening and having a hand-firing opening in its rear wall, closure means for said handring opening, a jet member disposed on the oor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said oor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orifices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, and a fuel deector mounted at its rear end in the upper end of the conduit sufficiently above said jet member to permit a man to enter the firebox through said openings, the front portion of the deflector extending through said hackwall opening and the rear portion of the defiector being inclined upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, said deflector member being the only fuel distributor plate in the Stoker.

1l. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive rebox through an opening in its backwall, the upper portion of the conduit adjacent the lower portion of said opening flaring outwardly to substantially the width thereof, a conveyor screw rotatably mounted in said conduit with its upper end passing substantially through said aring portion of the conduit but terminating short of the upper end thereof, a jet member disposed on the floor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orifices for directing said iiuid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, and a deflector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the rebox, said deector member being the only fuel distributor plate in the stoker.

l2. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive firebox through an opening in its backwall, a jet member disposed in the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of the iioor of the conduit, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined front wall provided with a a plurality of upwardly inclined orifices for directing said uid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, the rear wall of said jet member forming a fuel-supporting wall lying in the same inclined plane as the adjacent iioor of the conduit, and a deector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the rebox, said deiiector member serving as the only distributor plate in the stoker.

13. A stcker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive iirebox through an opening in its backwall, the iioor of the conduit at its upper end being provided with a transverse recess, a jet member disposed in said recess and having upwardly converging front and rear walls, said front wall being provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orifices adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pres- CTI sure for directing the fluid forwardly and upwardly, and a deector hung from the upper end of the conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom.

14. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive irebox through an opening in its backwall, the upper portion of the conduit flaring laterally, said conduit being provided in said daring portion with laterally spaced ribs projecting forwardly `therein for guiding coal in a restricted path, a jet member disposed at the upper end of said conduit between said ribs in the path of coal passing therethrough and adapted to be connected to a source of iiuid under pressure, said jet member being provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly, and a deflector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly there# from for distributing the coal throughout the iirebox.

15. A stoker comprising a substantially straight riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive rebox through an opening in its` backwall, the upper end of the conduit communicating with said backwall opening, a screw conveyor in said conduit, a jet member disposed on the oor of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and being provided with a plurality of inclined orifices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against lthe coal flowing over the jet member, and a normally stationary deflector member disposed at the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the rebox, said defiector member serving as the sole distributor` plate for the stoker.

16. A stoker comprising a substantially straight riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive rebox through an opening in its backwall, the upper end of the conduit communicating with said backwall opening, a screw conveyor in said conduit, a jet member disposed on the licor -of the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor,said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and having a front Wall provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orifices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, a plate-like hood projecting forward from the top of said front wall, and a vertically adjustable deector member projecting forward from the upper end of said conduit above said jet member and in the path of coal thrown upwardly therefrom for distributing the coal throughout the fireboX.

17. A stoker comprising a riser conduit adapted to deliver coal to a locomotive rebox through an opening in its backwall, a jet member disposed in. the upper end of said conduit and forming a continuation of said floor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined front wall provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined orices for directing said fluid forwardly and upwardly against the coal flowing over the jet member, the rear wall of said jet member forming a fuel-supporting wall lying in the same inclined plane as -the adjacent floor ofthe conduit, andra deflector 'member disposed Vat theupper'end of 4said conlfduit "above said jet memberiand in the path of coalithrown upwardly therefrom for distributing 4the 'coal throughout the ilrebox, said deflector I'member serving-as the only distributor plate in the fstoker.

T18. A Stoker comprising.a'substantially straight riserconduit adapted to deliver coal to a loco- 'motive Vrebox through rvan opening in its back- IWall, the upper end Vof the conduit communicat- Iiiig'with Ysaid backwall opening, a screw conveyor -in Fsaid conduit, a :jet member disposed on the iloorfof the upper end of said conduit and form- 'zingfa continuationlf said oor, said jet member being adapted to be connected to a source of Lfuid'under; pressure andV having a front wallpro- -vided with a plurality of laterally spaced and -upwardly inclined orifices for directing said fluid 

